Signal mechanism



L. A. MAPEL.

SIGNAL MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JULY I3. 19m,

1,388,278. Patented Aug. 23, 1921.

jfiEEL y UNITED STATES LEWIS A. MAPEL, OF S'I. LOUIS, MISSOUR PATENT OFFICE.

I, ASSIGNOR TO AUTOMATIC APPLIANCE SIGNAL mncmrsm.

Application filed July 13,

Toall whom it may concern Be it known that I, LEWIS A. MAPEL, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of St. Louis and Stateof Missouri, have invented a new and useful Signal .Mechanism, of which the following isa spe'clfication.

This invention relates to signal mechanisms.

An object of the invention is to prov de an efiicient signal mechanism in whic a slgnal is controlled for operation by electric current. relayed by any one or more timln devices without the use of extra or additional wiring.

Another object is to provide a signal mechanism embodying a self contalned mechanism for causing the operation of one or more signals by electrical means for operation of the visible signal of this timing device and the audible signal without the necessity of any outside source of current supply, other than the circuit entering the relay housing.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel signal mechanism under conftrol'of a timing device which may be set or turned to different positions so that the signal mechanism will be caused to operate or to signal by electric current relayed by any one or more timing devices after any selected or predetermined period of time has ela sed.

further object of the invention is to provide an improved electric signal mechanism having a signal in connection with the electric circuit and one or more timing devices also in connection with the electric circuit controlling the operation of the signal by relaying the electric current so that the signal will'be operated at a time determined by the action of any one of the timing devices.

My improved signal mechanism is spe cially adapted for use'in commercial laundries or other industries in which the different maphines, while operating concurrently, operate for different and varying pe riods of time' By the employment of a timing device for each of the operating machines; the operation of the signalmay be so controlled that the signal will be given when each machine has operated the desired period of time, thus calling'the attention of the operator for person in charge to the fact =pecification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 23, 1921.

1918. Serial No. 244,753.

so that the machine which is o erated long enough may receive attention. Ey thus combining the signal with timing mechanism belonging to several concurrently operating machines the operation of all of the ma chines may be coordinated so that they may be operated for desired periods and controlled so that no time will be lost in useless operation. This also enables a single person to attend to a larger number of machines than would otherwise be possible and to maintain proper systematic operation.

For these, and other purposes, I have produced an improved signal mechanism as illustrated in the accompanying drawing showing a diagrammatic arrangement of the device.

As shown a part of the controlling mechanism is supported within a case 1 containing a support 2 of some insulating or nonconduting material such as indurated fiber,

porcelain, asbestos, or some other appropriate material. One of the electric circuit wires 3 is connected to a binding post 4 on the support 2 and is extended from said binding post to connection with an electromagnet 5. From the magnet 5 a circuit wire 6 extends to a binding post 7 and thence onward. From the extension of the wire 6 a number of branch wires 8 are provided for connection with the timing devices as next ex lained.

he other circuit wire 9 leads and is connected to a binding. ost 10 on the support 2, and thence to anot er binding post 11 on said support. From the binding post 11 an extension 12 of the wire 9 is provided for cooperation with the wire 6 and a number of branch wires 13 from the wire 12 cooperate with the branchwires 8 leading to the timing devices. A timing device 14 is' in connection with each of the branches com-- prising a wire 8 and a wire 13, and includes an'electric switch 15 arranged to be closed by operation of the timing mechanism when the pointer 16 is moved opposite a designated point 17 at which time the lamp 18 will also be lighted. The timing mechanism is provided with a handle or key 19 whereby said mechanism maybe turned to or set in positions to operate for varying predetermined periods of time. For instance, the pointer 16 as shown is opposite a line indicating that thirty minutes will be re uired for the pointer to move in an anti-c100 wise direction to the point 17. The pointer may be turned to or set in any desired position to vary the period required for movement of the pointer to position in which the lamp will be lighted and the circuit closed, as re quired to relay the electric current to the audible signal. It is deemed. unnecessary to illustrate and describe the particular mechanism of the timing device, since the same is well known and constitutes the subjectmatter of my prior Patent No. 1,265,933, dated May 14, 1918. For present purposes, therefore, it is sufficient to understand that the result of the operation of the timing mechanism is as described above.

It will also .be understood that when the switch 15 is closed the circuit is completed, and the electromagnet 5 will be energized; and this is true irrespective of Whether it is any one, or tWoor more, of the series of timing devices by which the circuit is closed, While I have illustrated a single audible signal it will be understood that more than one such signal may be employed if desired, and that they may be located in any positions about the plant in which they will give most efficient results. For instance, the duties of the person in charge may require his presence in several different places or rooms during his hours of employment and itmay be desired to use a number of audible signals conveniently placed so that they will certainly be heard by the person in charge, wherever he may be.

As shown the audible signal 20 is a bell arranged to be operated under the influence of electric energy in the well known manner. The electric current .for operating the bell, or bells if more than one be used, is relayed by the action of the solenoid of the relay being energized by the current flow of the timing device, so that when one or more of the timing devices have operated for the desired period of time the audible signal or signals will also be operated, thus attracting the attention of the person in charge. As stated, any desired number of audible signals may be employed and each signal is in connection with a branch of an electric wire 21 leading to a binding post 22 on the support 2, and thence to a connection with the circuit wire 3 at the post 4 in advance of the solenoid 5. The signal is also in connection with a branch of the other circuit wire 23 connected to a binding post 24 and extending thence to a binding post 25, both of which are on the support 2. It will be observed that the electrical energy for causing operation of the bell is supplied from the circuit in the relay housing in advance of the relay solenoid.

The core 26. of the electromagnet is secured to the support 2 and has an arm 27 provided with a wide portion 28 at its end and a supporting extension 29 projecting laterally therefrom. An arm 30 in the form of a thin plate has one or more ears 31 connected to a supporting pivot 32 on the extension 29. A spring 33 supported by the core 26 normally holds the arm 30 out of contact with the core; but when the electromagnet is energized by operation of any one or more of the timing devices the arm 30 is turned into Contact with the core in opposition to the spring 33. An arm 34. in connection with the arm 30 supports the contact member 35 to which an extension of the wire 23 from the post 25 is connected. When the arm 30 is moved as a result of the electromagnet being energized the contact member 35 is moved into contact with another contact member 36 supported by a binding post 37.. The contact member 36 is in circuit with a wire 38 leading from the binding post 37 to a connection with the circuit wire 9 at the post 10.

From the foregoingit will be understood that the electric circuit to the signal 20 remains open until the electromagnet is energized, and further, that the electric current is relayed to the signal as a result of the solenoid of the relay being energized by the current flow of any one or more of the timing devices. The completion of the operation of any timing device creates a visible signal by lighting the lamp 18 in connection with the timing device so that the operator or person in charge may readily observe which machine it is that requires attention. By the completion of the circuit to light the lamp the electric current is relayed to one or more of the audible signals so that the operator or person in charge will be in formed of the fact that one. or more of the machines needs attention, whether he was giving attention to any of the machines at that particular moment, or not.

I claim: a

1. Signal mechanism comprising an electric circuit, a switch for opening and closing said circuit, a normally deenergized electro-' magnet in said circuit, and a timing device settable to close said switch after any varya ing selected interval of time, in combination with an electrically operable signal, a circuit wire from said signal in connection with one of the wires of said circuit between said magnet and the source of the electrical energy, another circuit wire from said signal, and a device operated by said magnet when said magnet is energized for placing said other circuit wire from the signal in circuit with the other wire of the first-named circuit between said switch and the source of electrical energy.

2. Signal mechanism comprising a housing, a normally deenergized electro-magnet in said housing, a pair of electric circuit wires for energizing said magnet, a switch for opening and closing the circuit through said wires, and a timing device settable to close said switch after any varying selected interval of time, in combination with an electrically operable signal, a circuit wire from said signal connecting with one of the wires of said circuit between said magnet and a source of the electrical energy, a contact member in connection with the other wire of said circuit, a switch element movable into contact with said contactmember by the energy of said magnet when said magnet is energized, an actuator for moving said switch element out of contact with said contact member when the magnet is deenergized, and another circuit wire from said signal in connection with said switch element, whereby said signal is caused to operate when said magnet is energized after any selected interval of time as determined by the setting of said timing device.

3. Signal mechanism of the character described comprising a housing, a binding post in said housing, an electro-magnet in said housing, a switch device,an electric circuit wire extending into said housing to said binding post from said binding post to said magnet and from said magnet to said switch device, another circuit wire extending through said housing tosaid switch device, and a timing device settable to close said switch device and thereby close the circuit to cause the magnet to be energized a variable selected interval of time, in combination with a switch member in said housing movable into contact with said contact member by the energy of said magnet when said magnet is energized as aforesaid, an electrically operable signal and a pair of electric circuit wiresfrom said signal, one of which is connected with said binding post between said magnet and the 'source of electrical energy, andthe other of which is connected with said switch element, whereby said signal will be operated when said magnet is energized after said timing device has operated the predetermined interval of time after which it was set.

4. Si nal mechanism of the character described'co'mprising' a housing, a binding post in said housing, an electro-magnet in said housing, a switch device, an electric circuit wire extending into said housing to said binding post from; said binding post to said magnet and from said magnet to said switch device, another circuit wire extending through said housing to said switch device, and a timing device settable to close said switch device and thereby close the circuit to cause the magnet to be energized a variable selected interval of time, in combination with a switch member in said:- housing movable into cont-act with said contact member by the energy of said magnet when said magnet is energized as aforesaid, an electrically operable signal, and a pair of electric circuit Wires from said signal, one

'a circuit for energizing said magnet, a

switch for opening and closing said circuit,

a contact member in connection with one of the wires of said circuit, a switch element movable into contact with said contact member by the energy of said magnet when the magnet is energized, a device for holding said switch element out of contact with said contact member while the magnet is de energized, a circuit wire connected to said switch element, an additional. circuit wire in connection with the other wire of said circuit than the one with which said'contact member is connected, and electrically operable signal in connection with said two v circuit .wires. Y a

6.- Signal mechanism comprising an electro-magnet, an electric circuit for energizing said magnet, a switch for opening and closing said circuit, a wire in connection with one of the wires of said circuit between the magnet and the source of electrical energy, a contact member in connection with the other wire of said circuit between the switch and the source of electrical energy a switch element movable into contact with said contact member by the energy of said magnet when the magnet is en ergized, means for moving said switch element but of contact with said contact member when the magnet is denergized, and a signal in connection with said two last-- named circuit wires arranged to be oper-, ated when said switch element contacts with said contact member.

7. Signal mechanism comprising an electro-magnet, an electric circuit for energizing said magnet, a switch for opening and closing said circuit, a timing device settable to cause said switch to close the circuit after a oredetermined interval of time, a circuit wire in connection with one of the wires of said circuit between the magnet and the source of electrical energy, an additional circuit wire, a switch device for connecting the additional circuit wire in connec tion with the other wire of the first-named wires.

LEWIS A. MAPEL.

said last-named circuit 

